Directing means for automobile spotlights



Nov. 10, 1931. A. REESE 1,831,137

DIRECTING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE SPOTLIGHTS Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l V INVENTOR ,uiargn Reese ATTORN EY5.

Nov. 10, 1931. A. REESE 1,831,137

DIRECTING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE SPOTLIGHTS Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E1 5 F g I INVENTOR Warez .Reese ATTORN EYS frame of the car and UNITED STATES PATENT O CE a AARON REESE, or SEATTL WASHINGTON DIRECTING MEANS roa AUTOMOBILE srorrren'rs .Application' filed ma 5, 930. serum no. 449,748.

My present invention relates to the art of automotive lighting and more part cularly to a directing means for automoblle spot lights. 1

In the past few years numerous arrangements'have been devised for the purpose of causing automobile lights to turn in the direction a car is turned. One type of control a means upon which a good dealof time has been spent is that wherein the light is fixed rigidly to either the front axle spindle or to the wheel spindle itself. I Lights of this character must necessarily turn with the wheel. They cannot be adjusted so as to turn ahead of p the wheels in order that theywill work when making either right or left hand turns. This type has a further disadvantage that they are not cushioned from the road shocks, and as a result the lights are soon destroyed. The other type is usually mounted upon the chassis proper where they obtained the benefit of the spring action, but in order to connect them-to the tie rod. of'the running gear, so as to communicate the turning movement of the car thereto, adequate provision is not made to take care of the constant di'splace ment which occurs between the chassis proper and the running gear, in other words the displacement which the springs take care of, therefore:

The principal object of my invention is to provide light directing means whereby the lights may be secured to the spring supported yet obtain its directing effort from the running gear of the car. A further obiect is to provide means whereby the directing lights may be made to move further than the wheels during the beginning of the turning movement.

Other and more specific objects will'beapparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a top plan View of certain parts of an automobile chasis, with my lights installed. I

igure 3 is a sideelevation showingone of portion of-my control means, certain clamping nut 22.

- be clearly my lights, and the connecting means Temploy.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through my light supporting standard.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View showing my 5 coupling rod fixture.

Figure 6 1s a fragmentary elevation of a parts being shown in sectlon.

Figure 7 is an elevation of my gimbal rod 5 rest. 1

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts,numeral 10 designates the frame o'f'an automobile. Secured to frame 10 is an upright standard 12. The exact manner in which this standard is secured to the automo bile will be a function of the design of the automobile in question. In some cars standard 12 can besecured to rods or posts which 76 support the headlights. In othersit'may be necessary to have a bracket member as 14 secured to the frameas with. bolts or rivets, and with a clamp member 16 encircling standr ard 12 and being secured in clamping relationship to bracketvl l. On some cars it is desirable to have an adjustable clamp as 18 which is adjustably secured to standard 12 and adapted to engageconvenient cross members, skirts or aprons. Standard 12 is normally formed of tubing, and to have revolvably disposed within the same the light support member. As a matter of convenience this should. take the form of a tube as 20.

The upper end of tube 20 is provided with athreaded portion adapted to receive the Clamped onto the end of tube 20 by not 22 is a light support-- bracket 24:. The exact form of this bracket must be chosen as that most suitablefor the light L it is intended to support.

The lower end of tube 20 where it'projects beyond the end of tube 12, has fi edly secured to it a hollow L shaped member 26. This is provided in certain designs with a wire outlet opening'28f I believe it will understood that wire W has a clear opening through 28 up through the centre of tube 20. out an upper opening in tube 20 at 30, to a point of contact with light L. Disposed within the L member 26 is a piston rod 30, which is normally urged into L 26 by the compression spring 32. I have shown in my drawings two such complete units. This is the arrangement I find most desirable although I believe it will be clear .that a single .light unit 'might .be used.

Assuming the two-unit installationQ'I provide a cross coupling rod'34 joining each of the members 30. Adapted to engage the coupling rod 34L is a spring cylinder member 36. This I prefer to have slidableon rod 34 and to have the same provided with means for clamping it to rod iii-at the most desired point. I have shown for this purpose a jam :nut 38 Which ihasa split conical portion lO adapted to engage a similarly cupped surface 42. This provides a very convenient and easily operated clamping means, but is only one of a variety which will occur to those skilled in this type of work. V

Slidablv secured within cylinder 36 :is a shock cylinder rod 44. This feature is probably best shown in Figure 6. The construction .of this member is very similar to that formerly described for the L member '26.

-Compression coil spring 46 surrounds the rod 44 and tends to urge itinto the cylinder. .Pivotably connected to rod 4415 the lateral motion rod 48. This is adapted to float freely within :the long bore of the gimbal member 50. Member 59 is pivotally supported as .by the bolt 52 from the U shaped :support member 54. This is most clearly shown in Figure 7. Clamping means are then provided which permits adjustable en- 'ga'gement of member 5a withthe tie rod :56 ofthe automobile running gear. The exact method of forming this attachment is a matter of personal preference. I have shown :a two "pieced clamp member 58 which is adapted :to be clamped about rod 56, and the same has proven quite satisfactory. I

Method of operation.

The method of operation of my device is substantially as follows. Let us-assumethat the car to which my lights are attached is proceeding in a straight line. Under these conditions myspot lights L will normally :be adjusted to throw their beams straight 'ahead, although the adjustability of their mounts-permit them to be tilted to the satisiitaction of the user.

When a curve is reached the driver, by means of his steering wheel and the connecting steering arm 60. applies the effort necessary to turn the wheelsfiu'their new direction. This effort must necessarily be transmitted by-means 0f tie rod 56. As tie rod 56 is movedin the direction indicated by the arrow of Figure 1. the gimbal member is carried with it and as it cannot revolve about a vertical axis, :rod 58 is moved bodily in the H direct-ionof the arrow. Thiscarries with it desirable to the end that the beam of light can be quickly directed upon that portion ofthe road the car will occupy as it progresses around ;.the -turn.. This feature, however, means that when the maximum displacement is given to the front wheels of thecar there will be aztendency to continuetomove arod 34 eventhough=the rod and piston rod 30 are practically in a straight line. It-is to -*.overcome this deficiency that I have pro vided the compression springs i32 so that the extra travel can-be taken up by them. Fur- -.ther.this arrangement can take care of unusual distortions of the automobile chassis. .Itwill be seen byaninspection of Figure Bthat the light standard 12 is fixedly secured 'toithe automobile frame-whichrests upon the sp-rings"S. Further; clamp 58 is fixedly secureditotheatie 1'od-56which isa fixed part of the running gear. As thecar is driven over uneven groundthe spring deflection will cause considerable displacement between these twoparts-of my device. I have found .that at times itheaxle A will rise up to a point where ,it will strike rod 18. As the road shocks drive this up quite violently I have @found it necessary to provide .the shock cyl1nder36 and the spring 46 to take care of this necessary 1 displacement. Another effect-of-the springdefiectionisto cause an ap parent change of length of rod 48. Fur- .ther on .roundinga curvethe changing ofthe position of rod 134 again-causes an apparent change in the length. To take care-of these conditions I have provided that rod 48 be permitted to float freely within the bore of member .50, and when observed under conditions of use will be observed to slide back and forth andalso the spring deflection will cause a rockingaction about pi1r52,

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrativeand. that such changes in the invention may. bemade as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

What I claim is:

1. A directing means for automobile spot lights consisting of alight supportingbracket; a tubular standard; a light support member revolvably disposed within said standard and arranged to have the supporting bracket secureda't its upper end; a hollow L member secured to the lower end of said support member; a piston rod within said L; a coil spring positioned to urge said piston rod into said L; a coupling rod pivotally secured to said piston rod; a lateral motion rod pivotally connected to said coupling rod; agimbal member in which the lateral motion rod is adapted to float and clamp means securing said gimbal member to the tie rod of an automobile and adaptedto prevent rotation of said gimbal member in a horizontal plane.

2. A directing means for automobile spot lights consisting of a light supporting bracket; a tubular standard; a light support member revolvably disposed within said standard and arranged to have the supporting bracket secured at its upper end; a hollow L member secured to the lower end of said support member; a piston rod within said L; a coil spring positioned to urge said piston rod into said L; a coupling rod pivotally secured to said piston rod; a spring cylinder adapted to clamp onto said coupling rod; a cylinder rod axially disposed within said spring cylinder; a coil spring positioned to urge said cylinder rod into said spring cylinder; a lateral motion rod pivotally secured to said cylinder rod; a gimbal member in which the lateral motion rod is adapted to float and clamp means securing said gimbal member to the tie rod of an automobile.

3. A directing means for automobile spot lights consisting of a light supporting bracket; a tubular standard; clamp means adapted to secure said standard to an automobile body a tubular light support member revolvably disposed within said standard and arranged to have the supporting bracket secured at its upper end; a hollow L member secured to the lower end of said support member; a piston rod within said L; a coil spring positioned to urge said piston rod into said L; a coupling rod pivotally secured to. said piston rod; a spring cylinder adapted to Clamp onto said coupling rod; a cylinder rod axially disposed withinsaid spring cylinder; a coil spring positioned to urge said cylinder rod into said spring cylinder; a lateral motion rod pivotably secured to said cylinder rod; a gimbal member, capable of movement only in a longitudinal, vertical plane,

in which the lateral motion rod is adapted to,

float and clamp means securing said gimbal member to the tie rod of an automobile.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of April, A. D. 1930.

AARON REESE. 

